"Varsity Blues" director Brian Robbins is in final negotiations to helm New Regency Prod.'s romantic comedy "First Daughter," targeted to begin shooting in the spring.

In addition, Rob Thomas was hired to rewrite the script penned by Jerry O'Connell ("Scream 2," "Jerry Maguire"), who will co-star in the film.

"Daughter" tells the story of a president's college-age daughter who insists on attending school without being flanked by Secret Service agents. The government agrees, on the surface, and hires a young-looking agent (O'Connell) to enroll in the school and secretly keep an eye on her. Things take a turn when the two fall in love and his real identity is revealed.

Mike Karz produces "Daughter," which will be distributed by 20th Century Fox through its output deal with Regency.

O'Connell's script was picked up by Regency in March in a pre-emptive purchase for six figures. The project was originally planned to go into production this summer but was delayed when O'Connell was recruited by Brian DePalma to star in "Mission to Mars." That project is shooting in Vancouver and is expected to wrap by the end of the year.

Robbins, repped by UTA, is scheduled to go into production this fall on Warner Bros.' untitled wrestling picture starring David Arquette and Rose McGowan. Other feature credits include "Good Burger" and the documentary "The Show."

Thomas, repped by Endeavor, scripted the upcoming Melissa Joan Hart ' "Next to You" for Fox. He also executive produced the defunct ABC series "Cupid."

O'Connell is repped by the William Morris Agency and next stars in New Line Cinema's "Body Shots."